Mar 26, 2023, 8:55 am
Last edit by: rrgg
Choice points expire after 18 months of inactivity. The Choice FAQ lists ways to extend the expiration date:
- Qualifying point-eligible stay. Must check-in
- Redeeming for free nights (warning: don't touch or cancel the reservation)
- Redeeming for gift cards
- Redeeming for other awards : miles, cruise, magazines, golf, donations
- Earning points with the Choice Mastercard (and presumably the Visa, not currently available)
- Referring a friend who completes a points-eligible stay (the post date is used, not the referral date)
- Purchasing points
- Gifting points counts for the recipient only. (Listed further down in the FAQ.)
- Dining "Eat and Earn" (confirmed working)
- e-Rewards (confirmed)
- Transfer from Amex Membership Rewards to Choice (confirmed working 3/2023, despite terms)
- Transfer from Citi Thank You points to Choice (confirmed working)
- Car rental: Avis or Budget
- Cruise booking
- Golf equipment rental, tee times, and apps
- Transfer from Capital One points to Choice (probably works but unconfirmed)
- Transfer from Radisson Americas to Choice?
- Vinesse
- Redeeming a cash+points stay and then cancelling to effectively "buy" points
- Choice Shopping Mall, 1800Baskets, 1800Flowers, and Quicken Loans programs are discontinued
- You can redeem points for an award dated past your points expiration. If you cancel though, expect to lose points.
- Radisson Americas has a 24-month expiration policy.
- Choice earning page
Cheapest way to extend choice points expiration
Apr 16, 2021, 1:43 pm
#61
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: East Coast US
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 192
Magazine subscription - expected 30 days for posting
Choice reps have indicated that magazine subscriptions are expected to take 30 days to post to accounts. Haven't yet reached that mark with my redemption (not posted yet at 10 day mark), and will update when it posts as a data point. Minimum price at the moment seems to be 600 points.
May 12, 2021, 5:48 pm
#62
Company Representative, Choice Hotels
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 451
Choice reps have indicated that magazine subscriptions are expected to take 30 days to post to accounts. Haven't yet reached that mark with my redemption (not posted yet at 10 day mark), and will update when it posts as a data point. Minimum price at the moment seems to be 600 points.
May 12, 2021, 5:52 pm
#63
Company Representative, Choice Hotels
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 451
We sincerely apologize for the delayed response. We'd love to review your case to see what can be done to help you. When time allows, please send us a private message with your account information. Please include your member number, phone number, name, email, and mailing address. We hope to hear more from you. -Jendy
May 14, 2021, 1:12 pm
#64
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SF
Programs: UA MM, AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTP, HH Dia
Posts: 1,132
We sincerely apologize for the delayed response. We'd love to review your case to see what can be done to help you. When time allows, please send us a private message with your account information. Please include your member number, phone number, name, email, and mailing address. We hope to hear more from you. -Jendy
Jun 2, 2021, 9:12 am
#66
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,975
This may be tangential to the topic, but if I transfer Amex points to avoid expiration and bring the balance over 6000, are there properties where 6000 points are good for a points +cash stay? When I login, I'm told I don't have enough points to quote a points+cash amount; does that change if I'm over 6000?
Jun 2, 2021, 10:08 am
#67
Company Representative, Choice Hotels
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 451
Good morning! Please know, Points Plus Cash allows you to book a room by combining 6,000 points that you already have plus purchasing the remaining difference to book the room. Nevertheless, we would like to check your account and make sure of the number of points you have. To do so, can you please send us a private message with your full name, member number, mailing address, and email? We will be waiting for your reply. -Liz.
This may be tangential to the topic, but if I transfer Amex points to avoid expiration and bring the balance over 6000, are there properties where 6000 points are good for a points +cash stay? When I login, I'm told I don't have enough points to quote a points+cash amount; does that change if I'm over 6000?
Jun 3, 2021, 7:59 pm
#68
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
This may be tangential to the topic, but if I transfer Amex points to avoid expiration and bring the balance over 6000, are there properties where 6000 points are good for a points +cash stay? When I login, I'm told I don't have enough points to quote a points+cash amount; does that change if I'm over 6000?
Jun 4, 2021, 10:58 am
#69
Company Representative, Choice Hotels
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 451
Hello, there! Thank you so much for explaining how our Points Plus Cash (PPC) works. Our team is always here if you need assistance. Take care, Liz.
Yes, there are some 8000 point hotel nights, so cash+6k points works. And if you make such a booking that can be cancelled without penalty, a timely cancellation would get 8k points deposited into your account and count as activity to have your expiration period extended for the points in your account.
Jun 4, 2021, 7:35 pm
#70
Join Date: May 2006
Location: BOS and ...
Programs: UA 2MM, AA 600k, DL 500k, Hyatt GP 1M, HH Gold, Rad. Gold, CP Gold, Miracle Fruit-su Club
Posts: 9,950
Yes, there are some 8000 point hotel nights, so cash+6k points works. And if you make such a booking that can be cancelled without penalty, a timely cancellation would get 8k points deposited into your account and count as activity to have your expiration period extended for the points in your account.
So I booked a points + cash night for the sole purpose of keeping them alive, intending to follow the tips of GUWonder et al (thank you!).
THEN I see on another Choice web page that points and status expiries are paused until 12/31/21 for elite members. Oh well. It's all good. Just need to complete the cycle.
BTW: I see widespread availability at 6,000 pts + $16 among lower-end properties at the moment.
Last edited by Firewind; Jun 4, 2021 at 8:01 pm
Jun 5, 2021, 10:16 am
#71
Company Representative, Choice Hotels
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 451
Received an email from Choice in May: "Psst...Friendly reminder: Don't let your points expire! ...You have xxx,xxx points which will be forfeited on 07/01/2021. But, they don't have to!..."
So I booked a points + cash night for the sole purpose of keeping them alive, intending to follow the tips of GUWonder et al (thank you!).
THEN I see on another Choice web page that points and status expiries are paused until 12/31/21 for elite members. Oh well. It's all good. Just need to complete the cycle.
BTW: I see widespread availability at 6,000 pts + $16 among lower-end properties at the moment.
So I booked a points + cash night for the sole purpose of keeping them alive, intending to follow the tips of GUWonder et al (thank you!).
THEN I see on another Choice web page that points and status expiries are paused until 12/31/21 for elite members. Oh well. It's all good. Just need to complete the cycle.
BTW: I see widespread availability at 6,000 pts + $16 among lower-end properties at the moment.
Aug 24, 2021, 3:58 pm
#73
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: YYZ
Programs: National EE, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond, AC 50K
Posts: 422
I can confirm that I also didn't receive any reminder emails about the points expiring and noticed my points have disappeared this month. This is really disappointing that there has been very little communication from Choice with regards to how this is being handled during Covid and no advance warnings or notice have been given to allow us a chance to try and extend the expiry.
Aug 27, 2021, 5:10 pm
#74
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: YOW
Programs: UA, AA
Posts: 35
I can confirm that I also didn't receive any reminder emails about the points expiring and noticed my points have disappeared this month. This is really disappointing that there has been very little communication from Choice with regards to how this is being handled during Covid and no advance warnings or notice have been given to allow us a chance to try and extend the expiry.
update
Thanks to turbov6, I called 1-888-770-6800 and the choice was buy 1,000 points for $12.10 and get back 50% of points or stay at a property in the next month and then call back and try to get back points sufficient to cover that stay. I talked and balked. Second offer was buy the 1,000 points and get 100% points back. All points back now. The rep. was working from home and was probably contacting someone else for guidance, on and off the phone. It took 60 minutes. GST on the $12.10 for Canadians
Last edited by ken_ll; Aug 31, 2021 at 1:06 pm Reason: Update